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Flint & Genesee Group | Art of Achievement Awards 2021: ‘And the Nominees Are…’

FlintGenesee-LogoFinal-GROUP-RGBThe nominations are in and judging is underway for the Flint & Genesee Group’s seventh-annual Art of Achievement Awards, which recognize business excellence and community leadership in Flint and Genesee County.

Over 60 businesses and organizations along with more than 70 individuals are contenders for 16 awards that will be presented Nov. 4, from 6-8 p.m., at the historic Capitol Theatre. The Group will also present several special honors at the celebration, including the Economic Development Project of the Year; Diversity Equity & Inclusion Champion; Art Hurand Award; and Charles Stewart Mott Award.

The following individuals and companies are nominees in the business category:

Business Impact Award – Any company with 50 or more employees working to have a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.

  • Automation Movers International
  • Financial Plus Credit Union
  • Peckham’s Flint Manufacturing Division
  • PrintComm
  • SERVPRO of Northwest Genesee County
  • Shea Automotive

Small Business Award – Any company with fewer than 50 employees working to have a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.

  • Bovan Floral Group
  • CIB Planning
  • Commercial Graphics of Michigan
  • Flint United Basketball Club
  • Great Harvest Bread Co.
  • PMC Staffing
  • Stephens Wealth Management Group
  • Sunny Patch Learning Center
  • The Funny Spot
  • The John L Group

Minority Owned Business Award – Any minority-owned business working to have a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.

  • 810 Tacos
  • B.I.C. – Business Investment Coalition
  • Breads and Threads
  • Flint United Basketball Club
  • Harambee Wellness
  • Horizon Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
  • Ryals Massey Group
  • Sunny Patch Learning Center 

Nonprofit Impact Award – Any charity, church or nonprofit making great strides to positively impact any facet of the Flint & Genesee community.

  • Catholic Charities of Genesee & Shiawassee Counties
  • Center of Hope
  • Communities First, Inc.
  • Flint Soup
  • Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
  • Genesee County Crisis Intervention Team’s Inaugural Graduating Class
  • Genesee Health Systems
  • James-Moorehouse, Inc.
  • Mass Transportation Authority
  • My Brother’s Keeper
  • Peckham, Inc. – Flint Manufacturing Division
  • Rebecca’s Reason
  • The Disability Network
  • Voices for Children

 Young Professional Leader Award – Any young professional 40 or younger making great strides to benefit their company and/or the community.

  • Ashley Herriman
  • Christina Zerka
  • Claudnyse (Nyse) Holloman
  • Craig Kelley Jr
  • Flint United Basketball Club
  • Geoff Woodcox
  • Jennie Bauder
  • Kevin Mays
  • Marquita Adams
  • Nicole Randt
  • Ray Tyler
  • Tauzzari Robinson

Claire M. White Award – Honoring a woman working for the betterment of Flint & Genesee in community, career or someone else’s life.

  • Amber Taylor
  • Cathy Gentry
  • Claudnyse Holloman
  • DeAnna Wallace
  • Joan O’Sullivan-Butler
  • Kara Ross
  • LaShanda Jackson
  • Linda D’Appolonia Knecht
  • Lori Hawk
  • Lottie Ferguson
  • Marquita Adams
  • Nancy Edwards
  • Nikki Koliopoulos
  • Reta Stanley
  • Shannon L. Garrett
  • Traci Davis
  • Tremayne Howard

The following companies and individuals are nominees in the hospitality category:

Hotel of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County hotel for its outstanding service, comfort and attention to hotel guests, providing an excellent overall experience.

  • Best Western Plus Flint Airport Inn & Suites
  • Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
  • Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
  • Home 2 Suites by Hilton Grand Blanc Flint

Restaurant of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County restaurant for their outstanding service, menu and overall experience of the customer.

  • Barley & Vine
  • Blondie’s Food & Spirits
  • Cork on Saginaw
  • The Fenton Hotel Tavern and Grille
  • The Laundry
  • Pesto’s
  • Sauce Italian American Kitchen
  • Steady Eddy’s Café
  • Tee’s Plentiful Salads & Catering
  • Whitey’s Restaurant

Attraction of the Year – Recognizes a venue or attraction that continues to raise the bar, offering top notch entertainment or programming to the community and visitors.

  • Flint Drop Fest
  • Flint Public Art Project

Gloria DeHart Community Champion – Recognizes an individual or organization who has worked to improve Flint & Genesee in the eyes of the hospitality community.

  • The Disability Network
  • Jack Stock

Frontline Ambassador Award of the Year – Recognizes outstanding customer service in the non-hotel areas of food service, bartender, transportation, business, etc.

  • Antionetta Green, McFarlen Villages
  • Will Mason, Coffee Beanery
  • Elizabeth Resice, Italia Gardens Grand Blanc
  • Antwain Trimble, Chef & Owner, Robella Haynie’s Catering
  • Samuel Walton, McFarlen Villages

Hotel Ambassador of the Year – Recognizes a hospitality worker who provided outstanding service. This may include, but is not limited to front desk, host, hostess, housekeeper, guest services, hotel restaurant and maintenance.

Best Western Plus Flint Airport Inn & Suites

  • Jeanette Anderson, Director of Sales/Manager
  • Deniesha Coulter, Front Desk Agent
  • Shelby Ferguson, Front Desk Agent
  • Trishayla Gipson, Front Desk Agent
  • Keniesha Harris, Front Desk Supervisor & Housekeeping Supervisor
  • Matt Hensel, Front Desk Manager
  • Drea Jewell, Front Desk Agent
  • Amanda Montgomery, Front Desk Agent
  • Lucia Qazaha, Front Desk Agent

Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Grand Blanc

  • Autwan Roland, Assistant General Manager
  • Marlis Settles, Shuttle Driver
  • Toya Smith, Front Desk Agent
  • Karla Turner, Sales Manager

Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc

  • Geri Geske, Breakfast Attendant
  • Ashleigh Lamson, Front Office Supervisor
  • Melissa Mancour, Guest Service Representative

Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown

  • Gregory Ahejew, Catering Sales Manager
  • Ellen Bailey, Lead Server
  • Ted Berlin, Chief Engineer
  • Candice Champine, Banquet Captain
  • Sheryl Champine, Director of Sales
  • Megan Convis, Barista
  • Alyssa Dicicco, Assistant General Manager
  • Latanya Hardy, Front Desk Agent
  • Katie Hinman, Front Office Manager
  • Chris Inman, Front Desk Agent
  • Ethan Irish, Front Desk Agent
  • Jamie Isaacson, Server
  • Melea Mitchell, Barista
  • Chasity Raines, Bartender
  • Jeff Stableford, General Manager
  • John Stenimetz, Lead Bartender
  • Daniel Tait, Front Desk Agent
  • Dan Wright, General Manager of Food & Beverage

Home 2 Suites by Hilton Grand Blanc Flint

  • Ashley Bradley, Executive Housekeeper (was just promoted to AGM)
  • Zach Castillo, Maintenance Supervisor
  • Kelly Grant, Front Desk Agent
  • Traci Wing, General Manager

Tickets are on sale now for $10 and may be purchased online by visiting flintandgenesee.org/art-of-achievement.

About Flint & Genesee Group
Flint & Genesee Group supports the region through its commitment to developing business, talent and place. Marketing its services through four divisions – Explore Flint & GeneseeFlint & Genesee Chamber, Flint & Genesee Economic Allianceand Flint & Genesee Education & Talent – as well as with community partners, the organization works to strengthen the Flint and Genesee County economy, and create a place where people thrive, and businesses invest and grow. For more information, visit flintandgenesee.org, and check us out on FacebookLinkedIn and Twitter. 

About Flint & Genesee Education & Talent
Flint & Genesee Education & Talent, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group, provides high-quality talent development from cradle to career through programs such as YouthQuest, TeenQuest/Summer Youth Initiative, Flint Promise and Career Edge. By building a solid foundation of personal, academic, and career-oriented skills, the programs offered through Education & Talent prepare the current and future workforce in Flint & Genesee. The division receives support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, 21st Century Community Learning Centers and other generous funders.

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